IS THIS A DREAM OR COULD IT BE CAMELOT ?​ It's both! WELCOME TO MY WEB SITE! ​ This site was created because I love Groton Pond. I look upon the pond as precious and dear. I spend time on this web site, just for the love of it. As a young child my parents brought me here and my heart and mind has never left since that time. I hope that my spirit will live on in this incredibly beautiful ​place long after I am gone. Some are extremely lucky to own a cottage, camp or live here year round. For those of you who have visited the pond and stayed with Grandparents or camped with your folks or friends, this web site is for you too. Perhaps you haven't been here in years and are not able to come back. This gives you a chance to visit at the touch of your finger tips . Take this opportunity to reminisce. Close your eyes for one moment and listen. Do you remember the soothing sounds of the peepers or the lapping of the water on the shoreline, perhaps the calls of the loons or the hoot of an owl in the night . There is a certain feeling of intimacy that small ponds and lakes provide. To know every beach, the curve of every cove and shoreline, watch the birth of every spring and hear the rushing of it's life's blood as it races over the dam and travels boldly downstream, breathing new life into awaiting streams. To watch the waters gently go to rest when winter lays down her quilt of white . How could one not feel a closeness and form an everlasting bond. This is a place of beauty, and wonder. A place we should care for and protect. Please work together with us who feel this way to keep it as pristine and wild as possible.​ Perhaps this site will stir something deep within to inspire folks. There is just something about this place for those of us who have spent time here, that we cannot forget or let go of.​ All of us here are stewards of Groton Pond. We respect our neighbors, wildlife and nature. "We care and take care". It is expected of anyone who comes to visit will do the same. Please do not let your dogs run loose and bark for periods of time. Enjoy your visit. Welcome to Groton Pond !

​Darlene Sprague​Goodness and beauty reign here!

D Smith

DON'T LEAVE............There is so much more to see, stay awhile and check it out​

June~ 2017 July-2016~ August-2015

90 t0 100 DEGREES June 2017 Sept 2017

facts...Ice out dates​2016​ Ice went out on the 31st​ of March a sighting of one loon on April 2nd 2017The ice went out on AprI I8th and the loons have been sighted​​2018 ​The lake was open by April 30th, ice out by late in day on May 1st. Two pair of Loons seen on South end and North end of the lake, Temp in the 80 's+

The following is a report regarding the necropsy of dead loon chick recovered from Groton Pond. We ask folks to please listen when we say, "Please don't zip by them, slow down and
go around ! "Give them a wide berth, they need our help. The words "fractured and shattered and massive blunt trauma " are chilling to say the least. Read this report from Tufts and see results of how this chick died on this pond. This
is the second documented boat hit. The results of what can happen and why some loons turn up dead are sad.​ Volunteers care about loons and work hard to protect them so everyone can enjoy their beauty, and haunting calls of the wilderness. Thank you!

I found these skeletal remains of this carcass on a rock. As I approached. an eagle was flying low and away from this area. I believe I scared it off its kill! (Photo ID and consultation with biologists concluded​ it may be a Gull)

Photo Darlene Sprague 2017

​2017 YEAR REVIEW ​Scroll down to bottom of page to view photos Check out page titled "Water World" Feel free to check back from time to time, or better still just check out each page if you haven't done so already. This site is intended for enjoyment and relaxation. Its all about "the pond", thank you! ​Darlene ​

Mother Goose protecting her one remaining chick, as an eagle in nearby tree watches. I have checked several times ​after this photo was taken and the chick is no where to be found.​

Photo D Sprague

A rock eating shark appears out of the fog. It has been said that sharks will eat anything.

There are no words to describe this photo other than absolutely amazing. A very special thank you Jim for sharing this !!

PHOTO JIM HOUSE

Some shoreline owners, have stepped up to take care of masses of the floating bladder wort in front of their shorelines. Many ​of these floating masses are not accessible for shoreline pick up by the BW work boat and crew

When harvesting Bladder Wort by hand with a rake, it reveals life within its confines. In this large mass pulled in and piled on the dock, it contained 2 salamanders, 1 crayfish. a frog and a small sunfish which were all clinging to life and released back into the water

Photo​Darlene Sprague

What kind of impact will this have on the aquatic life of the lake, as they slowly loose their food source? What are your thoughts?​

NEWS FLASH AUGUST 17 2017 reviewEvery time of year is a dangerous time for the loon chicks.Today the adults have been fighting and one of the loon chicks is missing from the far north end of Lake Groton. I have scoured the shoreline looking for the missing chick. Sighted one on the East shore, and later on another one on the west side of the Lake...I could not tell if they were different chicks or the same one because of the time that lapsed between sightings.​​​​​ UPDATE AUGUST 20 2017Lake residents have seen two chicks with the parents. today. I have seen only one chick with the parents, and i have seen another chick close to the shoreline alone. This could indicate the 2nd chick may be injured, not able to travel with the parents. Will need to keep a eye on the shoreline chick. Checked with the biologist, his thoughts is to leave it be and monitor it.. ​UPDATE August 25 2017One chick may be injured it has beached itself twice, moves very slow and swims in a flat position, looks like a board or a piece of wood floating. Please do not boat near them creating a wake or big waves. If you find one beached do not pick it up. Please keep an eye on loose dogs so they do not attack it. email me is best at darlenesprague@charter.netNo email call 802-584-3030 ​

PHOTO ​DARLENE SPRAGUE 2017

LOVE ​GROTON POND

Darlene Sprague

At Groton Pond Created ​by Darlene Sprague​​

UPDATESSEPTEMBER 25 2017a large adult loon was found floating lifeless near Beaver Brook on the West Shore at the south end of the pond. Cause of death is unknown. Too decomposed to have a necropsy done...Special thanks to... ​Bob and Brenda Snetsinger ​for their assistance with this

​​

Photo D Sprague

​January 2018~ Visitors landed on the North end of​ the lake​​Photo Ashley White

2018 ​​Welcome Check out the new photo by Ashley WhiteThanks Ashley , great photo!

Its a new year and as the days ​go by new photos will be added as soon as they are available You are welcome to send photos pertaining to lake activities anytime to meEmail...​​darlenesprague@charter.net

October Chick updatefrom Jackie Duckett2 Loon chicks spotted on North end of Lake and appeared to be doing well! ​Thank you Jackie !

~May 1 2018~

CLICK arrow in center to hear the peepers....

​​​2018 page New page...Go to directory at the very bottom of any page ​​click on 2 CONTINUED for more photos and stories on Groton Pond in the warmer months. Note new photo's posted at the bottom of each page, when I have something to post. (Fishing page, etc. check each page or you just might miss out on something...

JULY 2 2018​ NOTICEto all boaters!​​Including personal watercrafts, and unmotorzied vessels.​PLEASE HELP!​​​​PLEASE ​DO NOT BOAT NEAR THE LOONS! ​​We have several loons on the lake. There is just one loon chick near the southern part of the lake. Chicks are very small, helpless and fragile. They need our help to survive.​FISHERMAN​Please reel in if loons are near by. They will swim off in a minute or two. Loons will take a lure. If they do, they will not live. ​

​​If you find yourself close to a loon when boating, slow down, stop, and move off slowly in another direction. ​DO NOT LEAVE A WAKE BEHIND.​​The under tow can result in disaster for all loons, especially a chick.​​It takes a lake community to help raise a chick. If we all cooperate and do our part, we can help make it happen.​A reminder to pass along this info to boating friends and guests as many are not aware of this.